SAS Portal Help Desk

Assessments FAQs

Assessments Questions



What are the Keystone Exams?

The Keystone Exams are end‐of‐course assessments designed to assess proficiency in various subject areas.  At present, students are tested in Algebra I, Biology, and Literature. The Keystone Exams are one component of Pennsylvania's high school graduation requirements. Students must also earn state specified credits, fulfil the state's service learning and attendance requirements, and complete any additional local school system requirements to receive a Pennsylvania high school diploma. For additional information about how the Keystone Exams are being integrated into the Pennsylvania graduation requirements, please refer to the Keystone Exams tab within the Assessments section of the portal.


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I can't find the PSSA Item Samplers.  Where are they located on the SAS portal?

The link to the PSSA Item Samplers is available on the Pennsylvania Department of Education website, or by clicking here.


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What are the Classroom Diagnostic Tools? Which grade levels will be taking this assessment?

The Classroom Diagnostic Tools are a set of online tests designed to provide diagnostic information in order to guide instruction and remediation. The Classroom Diagnostic Tools will be offered in grades 6 through high school and will be available for use in schools and classrooms throughout the school year. The assessments will be available for the subject areas of Mathematics, Reading/Literacy, and Science. 

The Classroom Diagnostic Tools is based on content covered by the Keystone Exams and the Pennsylvania System of School Assessment and includes an interactive and dynamic reporting suite. The Classroom Diagnostic Tools reporting system will be fully integrated in the Standards Aligned System (SAS).


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Can I see any examples of the Diagnostic assessment?

To access the tutorial for the Mathematics Diagnostic assessment, please visit https://pa.drcdirect.com.  Once at the site, select Test Setup, click on General Information, and then click on the Test Tutorials tab.


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